http://www.motorvehicleregs.com/the_vehicle_reg_blog/2018/04/a-review-of-nhtsa-defect-investigations-spring-2018-update.htmlGHG and CAFE Credits for Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Technologytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fa4c669883401b7c9602a80970b2018-04-12T10:13:11-05:002018-04-12T10:13:11-05:00On April 9, 2018, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) released a report that looks at the potential positive impact upon fuel economy of various autonomous vehicle technologies. The report finds that these technologies could result in an improvement in fuel...Dale Kardos

On April 9, 2018, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) released a report that looks at the potential positive impact upon fuel economy of various autonomous vehicle technologies. The report finds that these technologies could result in an improvement in fuel efficiency of 18-25% when implemented system-wide.

SAFE suggests that regulators allow automakers to earn compliance credits for 3 - 5 years as part of a research program to deploy autonomous and connected vehicle technology, collect data about the technology’s performance, and share the data with the regulators. They argue that doing so will help accelerate the adoption of the technology.

http://www.motorvehicleregs.com/the_vehicle_reg_blog/2018/04/ghg-and-cafe-credits-for-autonomous-and-connected-vehicle-technology.htmlIsobutanol tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fa4c669883401b8d2e641a1970c2018-03-28T11:55:43-05:002018-03-28T11:55:43-05:00On March 29, 2018, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on any aspect of the use of isobutanol in gasoline. Butamax Advanced Biofuels, LLC (“Butamax”), a manufacturer of isobutanol, has submitted an application pursuant to...Dale Kardos

On March 29, 2018, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on any aspect of the use of isobutanol in gasoline. Butamax Advanced Biofuels, LLC (“Butamax”), a manufacturer of isobutanol, has submitted an application pursuant to the regulations titled “Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives” for the registration of isobutanol as a gasoline additive at up to 16 volume percent. Butamax has submitted information that would likely satisfy the applicable registration requirements. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to register a fuel or fuel additive once all the applicable registration requirements have been met by the manufacturer. Due to the potential for the widespread introduction of isobutanol into commerce, EPA is taking steps to make the public aware of the likelihood of this registration. They are seeking public comment regarding any issues they should take into consideration for this registration and any supplemental actions they should consider under the Clean Air Act to further protect public health and welfare. Comments must be received on or before April 28, 2018. Docket ref: EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0131. EPA contact: James W. Caldwell, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, (202) 343-9303; Email address: caldwell.jim@epa.gov.

http://www.motorvehicleregs.com/the_vehicle_reg_blog/2018/03/isobutanol-.htmlNHTSA Researchtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fa4c669883401b8d2e64180970c2018-03-28T11:53:50-05:002018-03-28T11:53:50-05:00On March 16, 2018, NHTSA held a public meeting where the agency’s Vehicle Safety Research and Behavioral Safety Research offices gave presentations summarizing the agency’s priority research that is to occur over the next twelve months. Research areas discussed included...Dale Kardos

On March 16, 2018, NHTSA held a public meeting where the agency’s Vehicle Safety Research and Behavioral Safety Research offices gave presentations summarizing the agency’s priority research that is to occur over the next twelve months. Research areas discussed included the following:

- Human Factors

- Crash Avoidance

- Driving Automation Systems

- Cybersecurity

- Biomechanics

- Vulnerable Occupants

- Crash Worthiness

- Alternative Fuels

- Advanced Automatic Collision Notification

- Behavioral Safety

The meeting also included the reveal of the agency’s Automated Driving Systems (ADS) Research Plan which has been formulated to address:

http://www.motorvehicleregs.com/the_vehicle_reg_blog/2018/03/nhtsa-research.htmlCAFE Penaltiestag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fa4c669883401b7c95c0242970b2018-03-28T11:51:12-05:002018-03-28T11:51:12-05:00On March 27, 2018, NHTSA announced that it is proposing to retain the current civil penalty rate in 49 U.S.C. 32912(b) of $5.50 per tenth of a mile per gallon for automobile manufacturers that do not meet applicable CAFE standards...Dale Kardos

On March 27, 2018, NHTSA announced that it is proposing to retain the current civil penalty rate in 49 U.S.C. 32912(b) of $5.50 per tenth of a mile per gallon for automobile manufacturers that do not meet applicable CAFE standards and are unable to offset such a deficit with compliance credits. NHTSA’s proposal is based on its tentative determination that the CAFE civil penalty rate is not a “civil monetary penalty,” as defined by the 2015 Act, that must be adjusted for inflation. NHTSA’s previous Federal Register notices on its inflation adjustments under the 2015 Act did not consider whether the CAFE civil penalty rate fit the definition of a “civil monetary penalty” subject to adjustment under the 2015 Act, instead proceeding—without analysis—as if the 2015 Act applied to the CAFE civil penalty rate. After taking the opportunity to fully analyze the issue, NHTSA tentatively concludes that the CAFE civil penalty rate is not covered by the 2015 Act and seeks comment on four ways that the provisions of the 2015 Act could be best approached.

Comments on the notice will be due 30 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register. A draft version is available here.

http://www.motorvehicleregs.com/the_vehicle_reg_blog/2018/03/cafe-penalties.htmlEPA Tier 3 Certification Fuel Impacts Test Program Reporttag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fa4c669883401b7c946358c970b2018-01-17T10:12:46-05:002018-01-17T10:12:46-05:00On January 11, 2018, EPA released a report entitled, "Tier 3 Certification Fuel Impacts Test Program." The test program discussed in this report was initiated to compare Tier 2 certification fuel, the fuel on which the Phase 1 and Phase...Dale Kardos

On January 11, 2018, EPA released a report entitled, "Tier 3 Certification Fuel Impacts Test Program." The test program discussed in this report was initiated to compare Tier 2 certification fuel, the fuel on which the Phase 1 and Phase 2 GHG and CAFE standards were established for light-duty and heavy duty-vehicles, with the new Tier 3 certification fuel from the Tier 3 program. The test program found an overall fuel economy reduction of 1.76% for the FTP and 2.42% for the HFET for Tier 3 compared to Tier 2 test fuel. It also found that the overall test fleet showed a reduction in CO2 of 1.78% for the FTP and 1.02% for the HFET. The program results will be used as a basis for test procedure adjustments to ensure consistent stringency of GHG and fuel economy standards as vehicle certification makes the transition to Tier 3 test fuel. Additional information on the testing program is available here

On Jan. 11, 2018, EPA issued two annual reports that provide information on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions from light duty vehicles in the United States.

The Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975-2017 report is the authoritative reference for real world fuel economy, technology trends and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions, for new personal vehicles sold in the U.S. every year since 1975. The report shows fuel economy for the U.S. fleet continues to improve. Model year (MY) 2016 vehicle fuel economy was 24.7 mpg, slightly higher than MY 2015, and a record high overall. Since MY 2004, fuel economy and CO2 emissions have improved in ten out of twelve years.

The Manufacturer Performance Report assesses compliance performance for individual automakers and for the U.S. fleet as a whole with the greenhouse gas emissions standards for light duty vehicles.

http://www.motorvehicleregs.com/the_vehicle_reg_blog/2018/01/fuel-economy-and-ghg-performance.htmlDOT Issues Autonomous Vehicle Request for Commentstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fa4c669883401bb09e793d2970d2018-01-11T11:19:41-05:002018-01-11T11:19:41-05:00As discussed in a press release issued Jan. 10, 2018 by the US DOT, Secretary Chao informed attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that the Department intends to have a more unified intermodal approach to automated driving...Dale Kardos

As discussed in a press release issued Jan. 10, 2018 by the US DOT, Secretary Chao informed attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that the Department intends to have a more unified intermodal approach to automated driving systems policy. In her remarks, Chao announced that DOT is issuing several notices for public comment. Comments for each of the requests will be due 45 days after each notice is published in the Federal Register.

In this notice, NHTSA seeks public comments to identify any regulatory barriers in the existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to the testing, compliance certification and compliance verification of motor vehicles with Automated Driving Systems (ADSs) and certain unconventional interior designs. NHTSA is focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on vehicles with ADSs that lack controls for a human driver; e.g., steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator pedal. The absence of manual driving controls, and thus of a human driver, poses potential barriers to testing, compliance certification and compliance verification. NHTSA also seeks comments on the research that would be needed to determine how to amend the FMVSS in order to remove such barriers, while retaining those existing safety requirements that will be needed and appropriate for those vehicles.

FHWA notice requesting information on Integration of ADS into the Highway Transportation System (Docket No. FHWA-2017-0049)

This notice seeks to better understand what is needed to accommodate ADS technologies, and maximize their potential benefits.

This notice will obtain transit industry comment regarding the current and near-future statuses of automated transit buses and related technologies. Comments received will assist FTA in developing future Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for transit bus automation demonstrations with respect to the industry’s ability and interest. Concepts for the NOFOs on demonstrations and evaluations of transit bus automation usage will be defined in FTA’s Strategic Transit Automation Research (STAR) plan. A premise of the STAR plan is to leverage and apply commercially available technology and products to the public transit industry to hasten early demonstrable outcomes.

A second notice will obtain transit industry comment regarding current or potential institutional, regulatory, or other policy barriers to the development, demonstration, deployment, and evaluation of automated transit buses and related technologies. Information from the RFC will also provide critical feedback on potential modifications of FTA rules, regulations, and agency guidance.

On October 12, 2017, Rep. Dingell (D-MI) introduced The Vehicle Innovation Act (H.R. 4050) which reauthorizes the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, which works with manufacturers and suppliers to research, develop and deploy advanced vehicle technologies that improve energy efficiency. The bill also provides DOE with clear direction to build on successful research programs, such as the SuperTruck program that has produced a model tractor trailer with 115 percent increase in fuel efficiency. It also encourages the development of a wide array of technologies that have the potential to improve fuel efficiency and reduce traffic congestion, including V2V communications systems, mild hybrids, engine down speeding, hydrogen and natural gas refueling, and electric vehicle charging technology. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

http://www.motorvehicleregs.com/the_vehicle_reg_blog/2017/10/vehicle-innovation-act.htmlAutomated Driving Systems: Voluntary Safety Self-Assessments - NHTSA Public Workshoptag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fa4c669883401bb09ce086e970d2017-10-17T08:33:05-05:002017-10-17T08:33:05-05:00On Oct. 17, 2017, NHTSA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a public workshop to address the Voluntary Safety Self-Assessments specified in the Autonomous Vehicle Guidance Version 2.0. The workshop is not intended to be a tutorial for...Dale Kardos

On Oct. 17, 2017, NHTSA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a public workshop to address the Voluntary Safety Self-Assessments specified in the Autonomous Vehicle Guidance Version 2.0. The workshop is not intended to be a tutorial for a prescriptive document. Instead, NHTSA hopes to hear from entities if there are any challenges that would make it difficult for an entity to publicly disclose any portion of a Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment in a summary document, and discuss how those challenges might be overcome or mitigated.

NHTSA will hold the public workshop on October 20, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.